IIO MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



At autopsies on human subjects plate-cultures should be 

 made, if possible, directly from the organs. In all cases 

 organs should be entered by the platinum wire through 

 burned surfaces. The method of isolation by streaking the 

 platinum wire containing the material under examination 

 lightly, several times, over the surface of an agar plate, will 

 be found convenient. At the same time smears should be 

 made from the organs upon cover-glasses for microscopical 

 study, and portions of the organs should be saved and hard- 

 ened in alcohol. 



A convenient device for the collection of infected mate- 

 rial is a stiff wire wound with a pledget of absorbent cotton 

 at one end, the whole sterilized in a tube, as recommended 

 by Warren for collecting pus and other fluids for examina- 

 tion, and as introduced by W. H. Park for the collection 

 of material from the throat in cases of suspected diphtheria 

 (Fig. 78). 



The so-called Sternberg bulb is valuable for the collec- 

 tion of fluid materials for examination. A short piece of 



glass tubing is taken; at one end 

 FIG. 38. is blown a bulb ; the other end is 



drawn out to a long, fine point. 

 To introduce the substance into 

 the bulb, the expanded end is 

 Sternberg Bulb. heated in the flame ; the point is 



broken and introduced below the 



surface of the fluid which is to be collected; as the bulb 

 cools, the air in it contracts and draws the fluid into it. 

 When it has taken up as much as it will, the point may 

 again be closed in the flame. 



When infectious material is to be transported, it should 

 be so packed that breakage or leakage is impossible. 



Concerning the transmission of materials containing bac- 

 teria in the mails, the ruling of the post-office department 

 of the United States, March 2, 1900, is as follows: 



